Describe your rental terms in plain language. SignAI generates a complete, San Francisco-compliant Lease Agreement — covering the SF Rent Ordinance, just cause eviction protections, and one of the country's strictest tenant protection frameworks. Sign and send instantly.
Lease Agreement
State of California
60s
Average creation time
$0
Free to create & sign
100%
100% Legally binding in SF
0
Templates to search
San Francisco has one of the most tenant-protective regulatory frameworks in the United States. The San Francisco Rent Ordinance (SF Administrative Code Chapter 37), administered by the San Francisco Rent Board, covers most rental units built before June 13, 1979. The Rent Ordinance limits annual rent increases to a percentage tied to CPI (typically 1-3%) and provides just cause eviction protections for all tenants — even those in non-rent-controlled units, under the citywide just cause provisions.
SF landlords face extensive obligations: registration of rental units with the Rent Board, compliance with the Tenant Protection Ordinance (which restricts buyout agreements and harassment), mandatory disclosure of lead paint and mold, compliance with the Ellis Act withdrawal process, and adherence to the city's strict owner move-in eviction rules. Security deposits are governed by California Civil Code § 1950.5, and SF further restricts certain deposits and fees. The San Francisco Tenants Union is one of the most active tenant advocacy organizations in the country.
SignAI generates your SF lease with the right legal language automatically — including compliance with the Rent Ordinance, California Civil Code, SF Administrative Code, required Rent Board disclosures, and just cause eviction provisions. Whether your unit is in the Mission, Sunset, Richmond, SOMA, or Pacific Heights, your lease will reflect San Francisco's strict regulatory framework.
How it works
No templates, no forms, no lawyers. Just describe what you need.
Type something like "I need a Lease Agreement for California" — no legal jargon needed. Answer a few quick follow-up questions and you're done.
AI generates a complete, California-specific Lease Agreement in seconds — with proper headings, numbered sections, and signature blocks. Edit anything you want, then type your name to sign.
Enter the other party's email and hit send. They review and sign without creating an account. Both parties get a copy. Done.
What's included
Every Lease Agreement generated by SignAI for California includes these essential provisions — automatically.
Full legal names of landlord and tenant, property address, unit number, and Rent Board registration status for units covered by the Rent Ordinance.
Monthly rent amount, due date, and for rent-controlled units, the base rent registered with the SF Rent Board and the current allowable annual increase percentage.
Security deposit capped at two months' rent (unfurnished) or three months' (furnished) under California law, with 21-day return requirement.
Enumeration of the 16 just cause eviction grounds under the Rent Ordinance, with proper notice requirements for each type of eviction.
Start and end dates, with clear statement that tenants in rent-controlled units have the right to continued occupancy after lease expiration under the Rent Ordinance.
Governing law clause specifying California Civil Code, SF Administrative Code Chapter 37, and venue selection for San Francisco County Superior Court.
Use cases
People in California use SignAI to create Lease Agreements for a wide range of situations. Here are the most popular:
Create a lease for a rent-controlled unit with Rent Board registration references, allowable increase schedules, and full just cause eviction protections.
Try it: “I need a lease for a rent-controlled apartment in the Mission District, San Francisco”
Generate a lease for a newer unit exempt from the Rent Ordinance's price controls but still subject to just cause eviction protections and AB 1482 statewide caps.
Try it: “I need a lease for a newer apartment in SOMA, San Francisco”
Draft a lease for tech industry professionals, with provisions for home office use, high-speed internet, and flexible relocation terms.
Try it: “I need a lease for a market-rate one-bedroom in Pacific Heights, San Francisco”
Create a lease for an in-law unit or ADU with proper classification under the Rent Ordinance, shared utility arrangements, and compliance with SF's ADU regulations.
Try it: “I need a lease for an in-law unit in the Sunset District, San Francisco”
FAQ
Yes. The SF Rent Ordinance covers most units built before June 13, 1979. Annual rent increases are limited to a percentage set by the Rent Board (tied to CPI, typically 1-3%). Even units not subject to rent control are protected by just cause eviction provisions. The Rent Board website provides tools to check if a specific unit is covered.
No. San Francisco requires just cause for all evictions — not just rent-controlled units. The Rent Ordinance lists 16 permissible grounds for eviction, including non-payment, lease violations, owner move-in, Ellis Act withdrawal, and capital improvements. Owner move-in evictions require specific conditions and relocation payments to the tenant.
The Ellis Act (California Government Code § 7060-7060.7) allows landlords to withdraw rental units from the market entirely. In San Francisco, the process requires 120 days' notice (one year for elderly and disabled tenants), relocation payments, and filing with the Rent Board. Re-renting the units within 10 years triggers significant penalties.
California Civil Code § 1950.5 applies — deposits are capped at two months' rent for unfurnished units and three months' for furnished. Landlords must return the deposit within 21 days with an itemized statement. San Francisco additionally restricts certain move-in fees and requires transparency in deposit handling.
SF landlords must provide lead paint disclosure (pre-1978), mold disclosure, Rent Board registration information, just cause eviction notice, bedbug history, the SF Rent Board fact sheets, and the identity of the building owner. Failure to provide required disclosures can result in penalties and affect the validity of rent increases.
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